The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1887-01-06
1T. CAUGHT IN a CAVE.
How John Wright Uneart!,cd Criminal,
ia the Mountains of West Virginia.


''ln the fall of the year 1879 learned
there was 4 reward Of 81 800 for n Young
man who had killed two men in the blue
grass section of Kentucky and burned
the house over their bodies" said John
Wright, a noted criminal-catcher of East
Tennessee, TO correspondent of the
Nashville -inlegicaa. The detectives
had traced his father TO the mountains
OF West Virginia, on the head of Elk
river, close to where the 1st Tennessee
regiment campcd during the civil war in
1861. The detectives knew the Young
man was in this section but could moi
catch him, although lots Of tine and
money was spent after him.
"a had been up there in that section
before, hunting for horse thieves and
criminals, and knew it was n rough
country, but determined 10 catch that
young man, so got two trusty men and
planned everything before we 60. in his
section of country. rode ahead of the
two men and came to The old mans
house at dark, and got permission to
stay all night told him ! had met
with bad luck, that some parties had
swindied me out OF my mule and | had
stolen him back again, and was expect
ing they were following me. l appeared
TO be very much excited, and asked him
to help ME out OF the trouble and keep
me hid from the men. The two men
came and asked the old man If he had
seen q mcdiUm-sized white man go by
his house riding Il black mule. The old
nun swore that he had not l saw the
r,si.a from Tha ,.11.a +
was hid. The old man came in and
told me all they said. l was terribly ex-
cited and asked the old man to take me
out in the mountains 10 good hiding
place, for | was certain they woGid re-
turn that night. He took me ont in the
dark about one mile from his house, and
hid me and my male behind big fod-
der stack, under projecting rock,
which woald have made us rery COM
Portable quarters if it had not been fer
the big rats that jumped over me Ike
kangeroos in countless numbers.
Il staid N this rat den for several DAYS
without seeing anybody but the old nlln
who brought me my meals. One day
gave him $50 in gold, and told him that
was all the money had. As l could
not tell how long would remain there
1 wanted him 10 take good care of Ire.
The cid man was pleased 10 get the
money, and asked me if / wasn't getting
mighty lonesome, ard if l didn't want
partner. l told him I was afraid he
would betray me- No saws he. me is
my son, ai:a is good standinc-ia mar,
and if you want him | viii take you TO
him tonight when the moon goes Down
"When it was dark rs it could GET the
old man came down there 20 me and we
started to meet his son. He lived in a
cave that had foar-foot entrance, but
after we 90. inside The cave j: opened in
one large beautiful room that had
small opening al the top, through which
the smoke escaped. He used dry h;ck-
ory bark that did not make much smoke.
He was well armed, he had two cid
muskets. one Winchester rifle, one shot
gun. and three large pistols, all well
loaded. His father supplied him with
leather and be made boots and shoes,
which his father sold. lie was SO sus-
p:c;ous Of me that he watched every
movement I made. | watched him, too,
but did not let him catch me. We had
becn together two nights and neither
one of lis went 20 sleep. knew if
went 10 sleep he would probably find
the pair of handouts carried in my hip
pocket, which would mean certain death.
On the third day about O'Clock he fell
asleep, and while he was lying on his
side with his hands close together took
my handouts out. of my hip pocket and
when clamped one arorri.d his arm he
jumped UP, but had him covered with
ny pistol, and made him fasten the
other on his other wrist. He swore he
would moi do It, and was pressing On
1he trigger and came il second of i;jll-
ing him before he gave n.